An Independent Living Skills Training Guide for Direct Support Professionals Working With People With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) serve an important role in assisting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in many aspects of their lives through the provision of care and support. Despite lacking in knowledge and training to support the potentially complex and varied presentation of people with IDD, DSPs are in a position to help their clients address and improve on their independent living skills that are important for autonomy and overall well-being. The capstone project developed the Independent Living Skills Teaching Guide (ILSTG), as a tool for DSPs, containing activity plans related to independent living skills, activity modifications based on cognitive functions, motor functions, as well as language and communication functions. The ILSTG was also designed to be expandable by DSPs to ensure longevity in relevancy. The capstone project sheds light on how the field of occupational therapy can support DSPs’ endeavors of bettering the lives of their clients with IDD.https://soar.usa.edu/otdcapstonesspring2025/1051/thumbnail.jp